Calculations on the Web
I always like these old school websites with calculators. Now what I want is a collection place for spreadsheets that HeavyBid users find useful for estimating. Anyway these are fun to review. LINK
BidX Knowledge Center
Looks like BidX is making some improvements, so I thought it would be helpful to contractors using BidX to list a link to the software’s Knowledge Center LINK Looks like some good resources
A Good Investment
I am always talking up and bragging about HCSS Tech Support. If you want to be a power user of any HCSS software product you have to be calling Tech Support with your questions. But sometimes, the question crosses the line from a technical question…
Hand Sketches – A Podcast
One skill that, at a minimum, estimators and field personnel should have, is the ability to do hand sketches whether it be on paper or a tablet. Scott Jennings recently did a podcast on this subject where he covered good practices for hand sketches. Gone…
The Pipeline Podcast – Worth Listening To
Scott Jennings, a consultant (and HeavyBid trainer), contractor and engineer, has a great podcast that addresses estimating theory, legal issues, and many other construction subjects in short podcasts. In the future, when I am blogging on a subject, I might link to a particular podcast…
US Energy Website-Current/Historical Fuel Prices
This might be useful for some. Current prices of fuel in the US. It only has on-road diesel and gas as far as I can tell. This could be useful for change orders since this shows past prices also. LINK Their website overall is very…
I am a Philosopher of Estimating
Yes this is a self-awarded title. Reflecting on this every company has an estimating philosophy. I have recently started aligning myself with companies that have a similar estimating philosophy. I can bring significant improvements to a company’s estimating workflow if we agree on goals. My…
Improve Your Excel Skills
Estimators use Excel all the time but I am continuely amazed at the poor use of this tool. For example it is very easy to start a series of numbers and just highlight and click to have it continue to populate each cell. So if…
ASAP Utilities Update
I’ve written about this program before. It fits right into your version of Excel and is a list of preloaded functions that can reformat your data efficiently. For example: deleting unnecessary spaces, making sure numbers are read as numbers, combine contents of cells, and that’s…
So You Need to Hire an Estimator
It is very common that I get inquiries about if I know any estimators that could be hired. I never give names of estimators of HCSS customers. It is a policy of mine. But I can give advice on hiring an estimator and here are…
HeavyBid – Basics and Beyond is devoted to everything HCSS HeavyBid and estimating. Updated regularly with helpful insights and tools of the trade, this blog is designed to make your estimating easier and more successful.
